A BBC programme revealed this week that thousands of credit card users are at risk of becoming victims of cyber crime. The programme highlighted the increase in numbers of online criminals and warned consumers to ensure that they keep their details safe at all times and watch out for any unusual activity in their accounts.

Cyber criminals are able to find out credit card information through certain types of software. The software is used by hackers to send out spam emails and install pop-ups on your computer. It is also used for phishing emails, a dangerous form of fraud where users are sent a form or directed to a website (such as a bank etc.) that looks official but is actually a copy. They are then asked to enter their details, allowing the hackers to access their bank account themselves. Phishing emails have also been reported in connection with Facebook, Ebay and Paypal.

In addition to this, it has emerged that cyber criminals have developed a new industry whereby hijacked computers can be sold on for profit. Greg Day, from the IT security firm, McAfee said: "Computers from the US and the UK go for about $350 to $400 (£254 - £290) for 1,000 because they've got much more financial details, like online banking passwords and credit card details."

More and more people are switching to online banking, using social networking sites and shopping online. The convenience of the internet has caused a massive rise in online users, which has also led to an increase in the number of criminals trying to get hold of sensitive information. They can either use that information themselves or sell on for a large profit. As a growing number of people use the internet for an increasing variety of things, the safety of the information they are storing also becomes a heightened issue.

So how can you keep your online information safe? First of all, it is crucial to get reputable anti-virus software. Depending on the brand you choose, this will prevent pop-ups, scan for viruses at regular intervals and greatly increase the security of your internet usage.

McAfee and Norton are two well-known companies which produce anti-virus software, however the number of products is increasing all the time as demand for different types of software grows.

If you receive an email or a pop-up asking for sensitive information, never respond. This can include passwords, bank details, credit card details and your home address. Even if you think the email is legitimate, it is a good idea to check with the company themselves whether this is correct before giving any information out.

Bear in mind that most companies will not ask you for this kind of information through an email, only directly from their website, so if you do receive such a communication, contact the company to let them know.

Some hackers will try and gain access to certain accounts by trying to guess passwords. It is important to have strong or random passwords that are personal to you in order to minimise the chance of this happening. Although a lot of people have trouble remembering passwords and so try to go for something obvious, this is a great security risk.

If you are someone who has trouble recalling which password you set for which website, you can write them down but make sure you do so in such a way that it is not obvious the words are passwords and keep them somewhere safe (i.e. not with other personal information such as name, address, etc.).

Having the same password for different types of accounts is not a good idea as it means that if someone manages to hack into your Facebook account, they also have access to your bank details, Paypal and anything else you do online that is password protected.

The internet is a great place – it is fun, useful and ultimately makes life far more convenient. Although there are people out there who want to exploit internet users, it is possible to keep yourself safe and still enjoy all the rewards of being online.